Heated Connector Assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly has a connector body to receive a spigot. The connector body includes a mechanism to retain the spigot in the connector body. A fluid transfer conduit is coupled with the connector body. A heating element extends through the fluid transfer conduit and into the connector body and spigot, when the spigot is retained by the connector body. The heating element heats the spigot and the connector body from the inside.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector assembly comprising:
 a connector body to receive a spigot, the connector body includes a mechanism to retain the spigot in the connector body;   a fluid transfer conduit coupled with the connector body; and   a heating element extending through the fluid transfer conduit and into the connector body and spigot, when the spigot is retained by the connector body so that the heating element heats from inside the connector assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a power wire electrically couples with the heating element to energize the heating element. 
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element extends beyond a free connection end of the connector body. 
     
     
         4 . The connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer conduit has a second end coupled with a second connector body. 
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a housing surrounds at least a portion of the connector body. 
     
     
         6 . The connector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the heating element extends through and beyond a free connector end of the second connector body. 
     
     
         7 . A connector assembly comprising:
 a connector body to receive a spigot, the connector body includes a mechanism to retain the spigot in the connector body; and   a heating element extending through a fluid transfer conduit and into and through the connector body so that the heating element heats from inside the connector assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a power wire electrically couples with the heating element to energize the heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the heating element extends beyond a free connection end of the connector body. 
     
     
         10 . The connector assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a housing surrounds at least a portion of the connector body. 
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the heating element includes two heating portions. 
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the two heating portions both exits the connector body and is electrically coupled with the power wire.